New Hampshire Businessman and Father Credits Eckerd Program for His Success Today
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Derick Spath, with wife Liz and daughter Katie, credits Eckerd Youth Alternatives E-Toh-Anee for his “second chance.” |
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As a youth, Derick Spath was, by his own admission, a troublemaker with a really bad temper. He was constantly fighting at home and school. Police detectives in Derick’s hometown of Salem, N.H., got to know him well and tried to help him stay out of jail. He eventually was sent to Eckerd Youth Alternatives E-Toh-Anee, an outdoor therapeutic program for boys in Colebrook, N.H.
Derick arrived at the program angry, rebellious and cocky. “I refused to cooperate and went out of my way to cause problems, but my counselors just kept talking to me and trying to help me face my real issues,” Derick shared.
Derick expected punishment, but none came. “There was only encouragement and guidance, and I wasn’t used to that,” he said. Derick had what he calls his “180 degree turnaround” after a one-on-one with his counselor, known at the program as a “chief.” “He made me feel safe enough to lower my defenses and told me that I was the one in control of whether I succeeded or failed. It was like a bolt of lightning. From then on, I worked very hard to please my chiefs, to help the other guys and to accept responsibility for my own actions.”
After Derick graduated from the program, he completed high school with his class, majored in business and graduated summa cum laude from Southern New Hampshire University.
Derick and wife Liz have a daughter, Katie, and both work in the insurance business. He says the skills and communications techniques he learned have proven invaluable in the workplace.
“I learned teamwork, conflict resolution, respect for authority and for each other, and that finding a solution was more important than the issue,” Derick said.
“Eckerd gave me a second chance and now I want to help other kids have the same opportunity I had to turn myself around. I’ll do anything to help Eckerd help other kids.”